Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Charlotte, North Carolina
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Monroe, NC
Accident Number: ERA17LA301
Date & Time: 08/25/2017, 1000 EDT
Registration: N3805T
Aircraft: PIPER PA28R
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Hard landing
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
On August 25, 2017, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28R-180, N3805T, exhibited substantial damage during a preflight inspection at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport (EQY), Monroe, North Carolina. A flight instructor and student pilot were preparing for an instructional flight operated by Pressley Aviation LLC. The time and date of the accident are unknown.
During a preflight inspection of the airplane, a flight instructor and student pilot observed a small hole in the upper surface of the left wing, and skin wrinkling on the upper and lower surfaces of the left wing. According to operator records, the airplane, which was based at EQY, had flown twice on the previous day. The first flight was in the morning and was conducted by the same flight instructor and student pilot who noticed the damage. They reported that no damage was present when they performed a postflight inspection of the airplane. The airplane was then flown in the afternoon by another pilot, as a personal flight. That pilot did not notice the damage during his preflight inspection. However, the damage was visible in photographs taken by a passenger on that flight, both on the ground prior to departure and during the takeoff.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing spar.
Flight Instructor Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 21, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/01/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Student Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 54, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N3805T
Model/Series: PA28R 180
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1969
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28R-30119
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/01/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 20 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 5500 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-B1E
Registered Owner: PRESSLEY AVIATION LLC
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: PRESSLEY AVIATION LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEQY, 679 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1053 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 50°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.1 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 18°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Monroe, NC (EQY)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Monroe, NC (EQY)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1000 EDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: CHARLOTTE-MONROE EXECUTIVE (EQY)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 682 ft
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 35.017500, -80.621944 (est)
The case of “nobody knows nothing”. I once belong to a medium sized flight club and this happened to one of our planes. In our case, the deductible was only $200 and the culprit would no come foreword. Shows you what some people are made of. Good lesson on conducting a complete thorough preflight inspection before jumping into plane is so important.
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